Chain



(No Model.) I

' A. SHEDLOCK.

CHAIN.

No. 550,921. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

Inventor,

I ANDREW B.GRAMM1,PPIOIO-UTHQWASI1INGI'DN.D.C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED SHEDLOCK, OF JERSEY CITY, NElV JERSEY.

CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,921, dated December 3, 1895.

Application filed December 31, 1892. Renewed November 7,1895. Serial No. 568,239., (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ,SHEDLOOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to decrease the cost of manufacture and also produce a new and improved style of chain.

The invention relates more especially to chains composed of links out from sheet metal, though the links may be otherwise formed or cut from different stock. The features of my invention appear fully from the following description and from the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram in plan showing one way of cutting the link blanks; Fig. 2, a view of one of such blanks detached; Fig. 3, a view showing such blank bent one step in the formation of the link. Figs. 4 and 5 are views at right angles to each other of two such chainlinks looped together into a chain. Fig. 6 is a view of a link-blank cut in the manner shown in Fig. 1 (or otherwise) and straightened into symmetrical shape. Fig. 7 shows such a blank after having been bent in the formation of a link. Figs. 8 and 9 are views at right angles to each other, showing two such links looped together into a chain. Fig. 10 is a View of a link-blank, the central portion of which is solid and has eyes in each end. Fig. 11 indicates a manner of bending such a blank longitudinally from eye to eye by swaging up its edges. Fig. 12 is a cross-section through Fig. 11 on the dotted line, and Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 11.

The interlocking plan of cutting the linkblanks shown in Fig. 1 is to avoid waste of metal.

A indicates a strip of metal of sufficient width to have out therefrom two series of blanks. The blanks are marked B B, and as cut from the strip are distorted or irregularly shaped. Each straight edge I) of the metal strips forms the straight sides or edges of the series of blanks cut from that side of the strip. The opposite edge 0 of each blank is inclined from each end toward the central portion of the blank. The adjoining ends 1 1 of two blanks in one series lie opposite the middle portion 2 of a blank cut from the other side of the strip. Each blank has cut from it a portion of metal to form the eye 3 at each end, and the metal of the blank between the eyes is preferably split from eye to eye, no metal being cut from it. The

' blanks thus formed may be bent edgewise into the symmetrical shape shown in Fig. 6 for the formation of the specific style of chain shown in Figs. 8 and 9, or may be left in their distorted shape for the formation of the specific style of chain shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This manner of cutting the link-blanks to avoid waste of metal is shown,described, and claimed in my application, Serial No. 435,913, filed June 7, 1892, and is not claimed herein. That application shows also a method of cutting one chain-link blank from the interior of another larger blank, and for the purposes of making the chain herein described such method of cutting may also be adopted, in which event the larger blank, that is open or cut out from eye to eye, may be bent or compressed into the desired shape,and the smaller or interior blank, which of course has eyes out in its end, may be split from eye to eye, and both styles of blanks be made up into chain according to this invention,as will hereinafter obviously appear.

The blank shown in Fig. 2 is, in the formation of a chain-link, compressed edgewise, the edge of one side passing over or under the edge of the opposite side, the blank then appearing as in Fig. 3. The blank is then doubled to form the loop, and in this bending the longer or irregularly-shaped side of the blank is outermost and is therefore formed with a larger bend, that requires a greater length of metal than the smaller inner bend of the shorter side of the blank. The blank or link is also bent edgewise either before, during, or after the formation of the loop by such bending to give the link the symmetrical shape seen in Fig. 5. The links are put together into chain, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, .in any usual or suitable manner by hand or by automatic machinery. The order of the operations performed in cutting the blanks, as in Fig. 1, or bending and folding them, as in Figs. 2 and 3, as well as in other figures yet to be described, is not material, and they may be performed in such suitable ways and order as may be most convenient.

The chain shown in Figs. at and 5 is more compact than ordinary sheet-metal chain of equal strength, since the brin gingtogether or overlapping of the fiat faces of the side portions of the blank reduces the width of that part of the link and consequently permits of the eyes in the ends of the blanks bein made smaller.

In making the chain shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the faces of the central portions of the blank are brought together or face to face, but in a manner dilferent from that in the chain shown in Figs. at and 5. The side portions of the blank, Fig. 6, are,cither during the operation of bending or looping the blank or otherwise, given a quarter-turn, as indicated at a, so as to bring their faces together, and then, the blank having been bent to form the link, the loop 1 presents precisely the same appearance as the two ends of the blank, and when the links are made up into chain it is quite impossible to distinguish the loop from the eye end of the link. Such a chain having solid links is a novelty, so far as I am aware, presents an ornamental and attractive appearance, and is strong and very flexible, being far more flexible than ordinary sheetmetal chain, and this is true also of the chain shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Fig. 10 a link-blank is shown that may be assumed to have been cut from sheet metal in the ordinary manner. It may be split from eye to eye, so as to substantially resemble the blanks already described, and such blanks may be made into chain after being manipulated in the manner already described. I may, however, instead of splitting the blank from eye to eye, crease or bend it longitudinally and turn up the side portions of the blank at right angles, as shown at .2, Figs. 12 and 13, so that they are opposite to each other, face to face. This in effect gives the requisite turn to the side portions, so that when the blank is bent to form the loop the faces of the side portions lie together. The use of such a blank produces a chain of slightly-different style from those already described, in that the longitudinal bendin give a rounded working surface to the loop that bears in and upon the eye of the adjoining link.

However the links are cut, the eyes may be made very small and then spread to form the proper-sized eyes, and are preferably rounded at the ends nearestthe ends of the blanks, so that when they are spread the metal will not be liable to be injured at such points. In fact, the blanks may each be made of a straight strip of metal merely split from a point near each end through the middle portion, and may then be spread or opened by any suitable means to the desired extent to form the proper sized eye. This practice must be determined by the character of the metal used, and where it is necessary to cut out portions for the eyes and to round the openings at one end, as shown in the drawings, the

eye-openings may be of a size determined by the capacity of the metal to stand the spread ing of the ends of the blank to open out the eyes.

In making the styles of chains shown and described herein I should, by preference, cut the blanks so that the width of the face of the metal forming the blank is substantially the same. This gives a substantially equal strength of metal at all points and a uniform appearance to the chain.

IVhen I refer in this specification and claims to the faces of the central portion of the blanks orlinks, I mean those faces that form the surface of the sheet metal from which the blanks are cut as distinguished from the edges formed by the cut. In other words, in my improved link the faces that are brought together are those that are parallel with the horizontal plane of the flat blank, and the edges in the flat blank that are in four planes vertical to said horizontal plane are in the link brought into two planes vertical to the faces that are arranged face to face.

I claim as my invcntion 1. A solid metal chain link divided from eye to eye and having faces of its central portion, that are, in the blank, parallel with the horizontal plane of the flat blank, brought face to face, the link being bent to form the loop, substantially as set forth.

2. A chain consisting of interlocking links, each divided from eye to eye and having faces of its central portion, that are, in the blank, parallel with the horizontal plane of the flat blank, arranged face to face, the links being each bent to form the loop, substantially as set forth.

3. A solid metal chain link divided from eye to eye, and having the two side portions or sections thereof partially turned and their faces brought together, the link being bent to form the loop, whereby a symmetrical link having a loop presenting an appearance similar to the eye-end of the link is produced, substantially as set forth.

at. A chain link out solid from sheet metal, having an eye in each endand divided longitudinally from eye to eye, the side portions or sections of the link each having a quarter turn, their faces brought together, and the link folded to form the loop, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A solid sheet metal chain link having an eye at each end, and its central portion on each side of a longitudinal line partially turned to bring the faces of said portions face to face, the link being bent to form theloop, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ALFRED simmpocn. IVitnesses:

EDWARD 0-. DAVIDSON, LLOYD B. IGHT.

ICC

IIO 

